Maharashtra court acquits three men in 2017 explosives case, citing weak evidence

A court in Thane, Maharashtra, has acquitted three men who were accused in a 2017 case involving explosives found hidden in a vehicle, after the prosecution failed to provide convincing evidence linking them to the alleged plot. The judgment, delivered by Additional Sessions Judge A S Bhagwat on January 29, emphasized the absence of eyewitness testimony and critical gaps in the investigation.

The case originated on August 6, 2017, when police raided Gousiya Compound in the Mumbra area of Thane. Authorities discovered a bag containing explosive powder and nine detonators inside an unused sports utility vehicle (SUV). Investigators were unable to establish how the explosives were connected to the accused.

The prosecution had alleged that the three accused— Mahinsa Rajesab Ganur alias Mahesh (57), Shahalam Mehmud Sheikh (49), and Arif Nawabali Khan (40) —had conspired to endanger life and property and were specifically targeting the landowner, Ismail Mohammed Sheikh. They faced charges under Sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances) and 120‑B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act. After spending more than two years in custody, the men were granted bail in late 2019.

Judge Bhagwat highlighted that the prosecution’s case was weakened by the lack of direct evidence , absence of eyewitnesses, and no forensic links establishing culpability. The court noted that none of the witnesses could confirm how the explosive materials entered the SUV or who had access to them prior to the raid. “From the above testimony, it is established that there are no eyewitnesses to the incident. Also, no witness has testified regarding the seizure of explosives from the possession of the accused,” the judgment said.

Given these shortcomings, the court concluded that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and granted the accused the benefit of the doubt. “In the above circumstances, there is no solid evidence against the accused… The prosecution has failed to prove that the accused committed crimes… Therefore, the accused are entitled to be acquitted,” the order stated.

Legal experts noted that cases involving explosive materials typically require robust forensic links and clear chains of custody to secure convictions, and weak or missing evidence often leads to acquittals in Indian courts.

The acquittal marks the end of a nearly decade‑old legal battle for the men, highlighting ongoing challenges in prosecuting complex cases involving explosives when investigative and evidentiary standards are not fully met.